Indian carrier IndiGo launches first flight to Hanoi

NDO - IndiGo, one of the major airlines in India, inaugurated its first commercial flight from Kolkata to Hanoi on October 3, making Hanoi its 19th international and 75th overall destination.

The carrier offers daily service between the two cities at a cost of INR9,999 (about US$141) for a single ticket.

Flights between Kolkata and Ho Chi Minh City are scheduled to commence on October 18.

IndiGo’s chief commercial officer William Boulter said the carrier’s connections to Vietnam will not only enable increased tourist footfall in both countries but will also connect the Buddhist community in Vietnam with important religious cities in India, Myanmar and China through Kolkata.

He added that IndiGo will continue to expand its network to meet the requirements of both business and leisure travellers across domestic and international destinations.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau, the figure for Indians travelling abroad annually is about 25 million and counting but the number visiting Vietnam remains rather small, estimated at just 130,000 in 2018.

Therefore, the direct flight service between India and Vietnam is an opportunity to boost tourism cooperation between the two countries thanks to the flight time between the two countries being shortened to 3-3.5 hours.

IndiGo is one of the largest carriers in India with a fleet of over 200 aircraft and a 49% market share. Vietnam is the carrier’s fifth Southeast Asian destination, after Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar.